Advertisement
Dr. Elizabeth Zelinski of the University of Southern California AndrusGerontology Center in Los Angeles, released initial data from the IMPACT(Improvement in Memory with Plasticity-based Adaptive Cognitive Training)study. She is one of the trial's principal investigators.
Advertisement
The IMPACT Study is the largest study ever done on aging and cognitivetraining using a publicly available training program. In this prospective,randomized, controlled, double blind trial of 524 healthy adults (aged 65 andolder), half the participants completed up to 40 hours of the computer-basedPosit Science Brain Fitness Program. The other half, who followed thetraditional advice that older people will benefit from new learning, completedup to 40 hours of a computer-based educational training program.
The group that engaged in the Posit Science program showed significantlysuperior gains in standardized, clinical measures of memory equal toapproximately 10 years. This is the first research study to showgeneralization to untrained standardized measures of memory using a publiclyavailable cognitive training program.
Participants in the Posit Science program also showed significant gains inhow they perceived their memory and cognitive abilities. This includedquestions of everyday tasks such as remembering names and phone numbers orwhere they had left their keys as well as communication abilities and feelingsof self-confidence.
"This study represents a 'gold-standard' approach to answering thequestions that many people have about computerized training programs formemory," Dr. Zelinski said.
"The changes we saw in the experimental group were significantly largerthan the gains in the control group," Dr. Zelinski said. "From a researcher'spoint of view, this was remarkable -- people got better at the tasks trained,those improvements generalized to various standardized measures of memory, andpeople perceived improvements in their lives."
"My memory improved after I participated in the study," said Marlene Allenof Mill Valley, California, a study participant. "I also felt better and a lotmore energized. I really had fun doing the training."
Dr. John Smith of San Anselmo is a semi-retired dentist, still workingpart-time. He finds that he functions well at work and gave the programcredit for his interactions there. "I'm quicker to respond to questions and mymemory is better."
"This is a very important study," said Dr. Ron Ruff, a member of thestudy's Data Review Committee and a former President of the National Academyof Neuropsychology, who is now on the faculty at the University of Californiaat San Francisco. "This clearly demonstrates that if healthy older adultsengage in the right kind of cognitive training activities, they can enhancetheir cognitive abilities. This provides a prescription for what we should doas we age."
About Posit Science
Posit Science Corporation develops science-based brain health programs.The company works with more than 50 brain scientists from leading universitiesaround the world to create training programs that enhance cognitiveperformance. Its assessments and exercises are based on neuroplasticity -- thebrain's ability to "rewire" through intensive, repetitive and progressivelychallenging activity. The company's Brain Fitness Program is distributedwithout charge by Humana to its Medicare Advantage members, is licensed tomore than 150 retirement communities nationwide, is sold online, and byAuthorized Providers. Posit Science has received several grants from theNational Institutes of Health (NIH).
